Prime Stage Theatre - "Speak" episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 28, 2026 · 13 MIN

Prime Stage Theatre - "Speak"

from Voice of the Arts · host WQED Multimedia

Prime Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Playwright Tammy Ryan sat down with Melissa Black to talk about the show. Speak follows Melinda, a teenage girl who struggles with sexual assault and uses art to find her voice. Tammy talks about adapting the story for the stage, working with the production's director, Dana Hardy Bingham, and how the cast of young actors has taken on the project. She details the decision to cast both sides of Melinda, having one actor for her outward self and one for her inner voice. You can see Speak, opening this weekend, at the New Hazlett Theater. Friday, May 1st is a pay-what-you-can preview night, with the official opening night on Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30pm. A discussion with the author of the book will following the opening performance. Speak returns the following weekend, May 8th-10th. More details and tickets can be found on both Prime Stage Theatre's website and the New Hazlett's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Prime Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Playwright Tammy Ryan sat down with Melissa Black to talk about the show.

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Prime Stage Theatre - "Speak"

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This episode was published on April 28, 2026.

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Prime Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Playwright Tammy Ryan sat down with Melissa Black to talk about the show. Speak follows Melinda, a teenage girl who struggles with sexual...

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